Friday, May 29, 2015

When summer arrives, gardeners will wish they could have saved some of the rain that ran down their driveways in the spring.

Outdoor use is a major component of the total water demand for urban areas.But in times of drought and water restrictions, landscape irrigation will most likely be a low priority for potable water supplies.

Using rainwater can significantly reduce the amount of drinkable water used for irrigation.

Sunday, May 24, 2015

The seeds of some plants do not germinate readily. Hard seed coats on flowering sweet peas, lupine and candle bush need scarification in order to sprout and grow. This means the seed must be nicked, sanded or scratched to allow the embryo to break through and emerge.

Other seeds won't give up their dormancy until they smell smoke. Plants like salvia, protea, senna, tea trees and kangaroo paw that have been removed from their natural environments need a smoke signal to begin germination.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Thatch is a layer of living and dead roots, crowns and lower shoots that often develops in lawns. It can weaken and even destroy a lawn if not prevented or removed.

Excessive growth as well as conditions unfavorable to the microorganisms responsible for the decomposition of decaying plant parts aid in thatch development. Rapid and excessive growth is likely to produce heavy thatch because plant material is being produced more rapidly than it can be decomposed.

Thatch buildup varies from lawn to lawn. Some lawns never develop a thatch layer, while others become thatch-bound within a few years of being established.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The lawn mower was supposed to circle the newly planted sapling, but instead it struck the base. Oops! Is that a problem?

Yes, it is.

Unlike skin, wounds that reach below the bark don't heal. At best, the trunk seals off the injury, but there is no repair in the sense that our skin repairs itself. Bark will form a callus along the edge of the wound, but it rarely can bridge the break. The trunk typically loses the bark in the injured area, and the wound remains decades later.